Human trafficking

BLOG: How to spot signs of human trafficking

Many believe that human trafficking is something associated only with our southern border states, mostly involving foreigners crossing into our country. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Right here in Charlotte, North Carolina, 1,386 miles from the closest southern border point of entry, thrives a criminal underworld collectively supporting an estimated $32 billion illicit industry with international connections.

Human trafficking is the third-largest global crime behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking.  This is a serious problem, perpetrated by criminals who have refined their tactics to the extent that they're comfortable operating in plain sight.

Unless you're trained to recognize the techniques and understand the vocabulary of human traffickers, you can literally be sitting in a public place, watching a transaction occurring, and never realize what's happening.  As a matter of fact, the bad guys who specialize in human trafficking are counting on that, so they can continue to operate in obscurity.